2 generous tablespoons paprika
(remember, use Hungarian sweet paprika if you can. Unsmoked Spanish dulce paprika will work, too, as will the sweet California paprika from Penzey’s or The Spice House)

1 teaspoon caraway seeds, whole

salt

pepper

Parsley to garnish

Directions:

Fry the onions and peppers in fat. You can use Chicken fat or Lard for flavor but neutral oils are fine, too.

Do not brown the onions. Add a little bit of salt here (about a teaspoon):
When translucent add the garlic, cook for a minute or two, and add your paprika and caraway seeds:

Turn down the heat (be careful not to let the paprika burn), mix it well with the onions, and let cook for about a minute, until the mixture is fragrant. Add beef.

Mix well, get the meat nice and coated in paprika, let cook for a minute or two, and then add your liquid:
Add hot water so meat won’t toughen or warm stock
Add another dose of salt to taste, maybe another teaspoon or two, and a few turns of the grinder of black pepper. You can use some soup bones here, too, to increase the richness of the broth slightly.

Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover. When the beef starts softening (anywhere from 1.5 – 3 hours or so. After about an hour into cooking time add the Italian peppers.

Simmer, covered, until vegetables are cooked through. Adjust for salt (you probably will have to add a good bit more), and serve, garnished with parsley and one hot pepper sliced, if you like:

(A couple quick notes and variations: You can also add a ripe, diced tomato in there, or a tablespoon or so of tomato paste. If using, I usually put it in just before I add the water, letting it fry up a little, so the tomato thoroughly cooks and dissolves into the soup. )

In the hot (almost finished soup) you can also add csipetke, “pinched noodles” a simple pasta made from 1/2 cup flour, 1 egg, a few tablespoon of warm water, and a 1/2 tsp. salt. Should be gooey consistency (don’t overstir). Let rest covered for ten minutes. Grate the mixture in a large holed grater right into the soup. In five minutes it is cooked.